Abstract:

In response to global transformations, many countries are implementing reforms to their education systems that involve optimizing institutional networks. Under such circumstances, organizations are required to adapt to structural changes while ensuring the continuity of their activities. Organizational resilience, therefore, becomes a key capability enabling organizations to function effectively during periods of change. Although this phenomenon has been widely examined in educational research, most studies focus on general education schools or higher education institutions. In contrast, organizational resilience in educational support organizations - institutions providing pedagogical, psychological, and methodological assistance to the educational community - has received limited scholarly attention, particularly in the context of structural reforms and institutional reorganization.

The aim of this study is to explore organizational resilience in educational support organizations and identify opportunities to strengthen it in institutions that have undergone reorganization within the Lithuanian education system. The study employed a mixed-methods research design. Quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire developed specifically for this research, based on theoretical approaches to organizational resilience and resilience dimensions identified in the literature, including leadership, organizational culture, collaboration, communication, and adaptability to change. To gain deeper insights into experiences of reorganization, semi-structured interviews were also conducted. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and qualitative content analysis.

The findings reveal that organizational resilience in educational support organizations undergoing reorganization primarily manifests through leadership practices, professional collaboration among staff, and the organization’s ability to maintain continuity of its core functions during periods of change. The results also indicate that resilience is strengthened by clear communication during reorganization processes, employee involvement in decision-making, opportunities for professional learning, and an organizational culture based on trust and collegial collaboration. Importantly, the study demonstrates that resilience in educational support organizations has a systemic character: it is shaped not only by internal organizational processes but also by the ability to sustain professional networks, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop mechanisms ensuring the continuity of support services under conditions of organizational change. These findings broaden the understanding of organizational resilience in education and may provide useful insights for other educational institutions facing structural reforms.

Keywords:

Education system reform, organizational resilience, educational support organizations, organizational change, interorganizational collaboration, service continuity.